EP1061290A1 - Contactless control device, particularly for the control of an automated gearbox - Google Patents

Abstract

A first assembly (10) has an array of transductors (S1,S2,S3,S4) such as Hall effect sensors and a second assembly (20) has an array of control elements (A,B,C,D) such as plastoferrite magnets. The second assembly is able to move in translation relatively to the first assembly and also to rotate and in each position taken up a different combination of sensors is activated to produce an operating signal for different gearbox functions

Description

The present invention relates to the field of devices for control without mechanical contact.

The present invention may find particular application in the control of automatic gearboxes (i.e. gearboxes gears controlled by actuators) from a lever.

You will find examples of control devices for boxes speed control in document EP-A-0620385.

The present invention can also find application in the field of electric switches for motor vehicles.

The present invention now aims to provide new improved control means compared to the state of the known technique.

This object is achieved in the context of the present invention thanks to a device comprising two sets capable of relative displacement: one comprising a grid of transducers oriented along axes predetermined, and the other comprising control elements suitable for modify the state of the transducers according to whether or not they cover them, said control elements being arranged in an oriented grid along predetermined axes parallel to those of the grid transducers, but with a pitch greater than that of the transducers, so that each control element can alternately cover a transducer or several transducers according to the defined relative position between the two sets.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the grid of the elements control is defined so that each control element can selectively cover all transducers.

According to another advantageous characteristic of the invention, the device includes four transducers and four control elements selective, each arranged in a grid with two rows and two columns parallel to each other from one set to another.

• la figure 1 représente schématiquement un agencement de grille de transducteurs et un agencement de grille d'éléments de commande conforme à la présente invention, en position superposée,
• la figure 2 illustré schématiquement une grille de position relative susceptible d'être définie entre les deux ensembles de transducteurs et d'éléments de commande,
• la figure 3 représente lesdits ensembles de transducteurs et d'éléments de commande dans ces diverses positions relatives, et
• la figure 4 représente la table de vérité de l'état des transducteurs, dans ces diverses positions.

Other characteristics, aims and advantages of the present invention will appear on reading the detailed description which follows and with reference to the appended drawings, given by way of nonlimiting example and in which:

• FIG. 1 schematically represents a grid arrangement of transducers and a grid arrangement of control elements according to the present invention, in the superposed position,
• FIG. 2 schematically illustrated a relative position grid capable of being defined between the two sets of transducers and control elements,
• FIG. 3 represents said sets of transducers and control elements in these various relative positions, and
• FIG. 4 represents the truth table of the state of the transducers, in these various positions.

According to the preferred but non-limiting embodiment shown in the accompanying figures, the device according to this invention includes four Hall effect probes S1, S2, S3 and S4 arranged on a common support 10 and a magnet 20 with four poles A, B, C and D, by example formed of a plastoferrite.

The four probes S1, S2, S3 and S4 are arranged in two rows and two columns, either according to the vertices of a square whose sides have a length equal to the distance between each pair of transducers S1 to S4 two by two, with identical diagonals.

Similarly, the four poles A, B, C and D of the magnet 20 are formed of two North poles and two South poles alternated along two lines and two columns, or according to the angles of a square.

Arbitrarily, we can consider that in the figures attached, the white areas A and C of the magnet 20 correspond to North poles towards transducers S1 to S4, while gray areas B and D of magnet 20 correspond to South poles directed towards the transducers S1 to S4.

The axes of the arrangement of the poles A, B, C, D of the magnet 20 are respectively parallel to the axes of the arrangement of the probes S1 to S4.

However, the dimensions of the poles A, B, C and D are greater to those of transducers S1 to S4 (in other words, the distance separating the center of two adjacent poles, AB for example, from the magnet, is greater than the distance between the center of two transducers adjacent, S1 and S2 for example). So each pole A, B, C, D of the magnet 20 is suitable for covering either a single probe S1 to S4, or two probes S1 to S4 adjacent, i.e. the four probes S1 to S4 according to the relative position imposed between the two sets 10 and 20.

The relative movement between the two sets 10 and 20 is controlled by means of guidance, indexing and conventional training, such as defined for example in document EP-A-0620385.

The invention is however not limited to this particular type of guidance, indexing and drive means.

Illustrated in Figure 2, a particular grid and not limiting relative position control between the two assemblies 10 and 20.

The control grid illustrated in Figure 2 has the general shape an E comprising a main trunk 30 provided with a central strand 32 orthogonal and two lateral auxiliary strands 34, 36 parallel to the central strand 32 and orthogonal to the main trunk 30, further accompanied by a section auxiliary 38 extending the central strand 32 of the E, on the opposite side of the trunk main 30.

By way of nonlimiting example, the central point of the grid corresponding to the point of intersection of the main trunk 30 and the central strand 32 and the auxiliary section 38 may correspond to a rest position, the ends of the central strand 32 and of the corresponding auxiliary section 38 downshift and shift control positions respectively gearshift for an automated gearbox, the ends of the main trunk 30 corresponding respectively to a neutral position to a automatic position and the positions corresponding to the ends of the lateral strands 34 and 36 associated one with the auto position, the other with the position neutral, corresponding respectively to an economic position and to a reverse position.

As seen in Figure 3, in the rest position a pole A, B, C, D, is respectively superimposed on a probe S1, S2, S3, S4.

In neutral position, pole D is superimposed on probes S1 and S4, while pole C is superimposed on probes S2 and S3.

In the auto position, pole A is superimposed on probes S1 and S4, while pole B is superimposed on probes S2 and S3.

In the "up" or speed up position, pole B is superimposed to probes S1 and S2, while pole C is superimposed on probes S3 and S4.

In position "down" or down speed, pole A is superimposed to probes S1 and S2 while pole D is superimposed on probes S3 and S4.

In reverse position, pole D is superimposed on the four probes S1, S2, S3 and S4.

In the eco position, pole A is superimposed on the four probes S1, S2, S3 and S4.

Note that in the previously indicated position grids relative between the two assemblies 10, 20, in particular with regard to the figure 2, the means for guiding, indexing and driving the two sets 10, 20 impose a relative displacement between them in sections rectilinear, perpendicular to each other and respectively parallel to axes of the transducer grids S1 to S4 and control elements A to D.

It will also be noted that, as illustrated in FIG. 1, by 90 ° rotation from the rest position, between the two sets 10, 20, one can lead to an additional control position, by example of a car park in which each pole A, B, C, D is superimposed on a probe S1, S2, S3 and S4, the underlying probe however being different from that defined in the rest position.

Of course, the present invention is not limited to the mode of particular embodiment which has just been described, but extends to all variants conform to his spirit.

In particular, transducers based on Hall effect sensors controlled by magnet poles can be replaced by optical means, transmitter / receiver, controlled by a reflector.

In this case, each pair of poles A and C or B and D is replaced by a reflector, while each probe S1, S2, S3, S4 is formed by an associated optical transmitter / receiver pair. In this case, the receiver receives a reflected light flux coming from the associated transmitter, when it is underlying a reflector.

Of course, those skilled in the art will understand that the grid command shown in Figure 2 can be simplified, for example limited to a grid in h limited to the strands 32, 36, 38 and the section of the trunk 30 disposed between rest and neutral positions.

In the context of the invention, the means for guiding, indexing and drive are typically adapted to define five positions relative between the two sets 10, 20, according to a control grid in h, or a relative position control grid between the two sets 10, 20, comprising seven positions arranged according to a grid in E with an auxiliary section extending the central strand of E.

Claims (10)

Control device without mechanical contact, in particular for controlling an automated vehicle gearbox automobile, characterized in that it comprises two assemblies (10, 20) susceptible of relative displacement: one (10) comprising a grid of transducers (S1, S2, S3, S4) oriented along predetermined axes, and the other (20) comprising control elements (A, B, C, D) suitable for modify the state of the transducers (S1, S2, S3, S4) according to whether they cover or not the latter, said control elements (A, B, C, D) being arranged in a grid oriented along predetermined parallel axes to those of the transducer grid (S1, S2, S3, S4) but with a pitch higher than that of the transducers (S1, S2, S3, S4) so that each control element (A, B, C, D) can alternatively cover a transducer (S1, S2, S3, S4) or several transducers depending on the position relative defined between the two sets. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the control elements grid (A, B, C, D) is adapted in such a way that each control element can selectively cover all the transducers (S1, S2, S3, S4). Device according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized by the fact that it includes four transducers (S1, S2, S3, S4) and four selective control elements (A, B, C, D) each arranged in a arrangement of two rows and two columns respectively parallel between them. Device according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized by the fact that it further comprises means for guiding, indexing and drive capable of defining five relative positions between the two sets according to a control grid in h. Device according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized by the fact that it further comprises means for guiding, indexing and drive capable of determining a position control grid relative between the two sets (10, 20) comprising seven positions arranged in an E grid with an auxiliary section extending the central strand of E. Device according to one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized by the fact that it includes suitable guide, indexing and drive means ensuring relative displacement between the two assemblies (10, 20) according to axes parallel to those of the transducer grids (S1, S2, S3, S4) and control elements (A, B, C, D). Device according to one of Claims 1 to 6, characterized by the fact that it includes suitable guide, indexing and drive means further ensuring relative rotation between the two assemblies (10, 20). Device according to one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized by the the fact that the transducers (S1, S2, S3, S4) are formed by effect probes hall while the control elements (A, B, C, D) are made of magnet poles; Device according to claim 8, characterized in that the magnet poles (A, B, C, D) are formed of a plastoferrite. Device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized by the fact that the transducers are made up of transmitter / receiver pairs optics while control elements are formed alternately reflectors.

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